Mechanical horse



Sept. 9 1924. 1,507,765

W. D. BLUDWORTH MECHANICAL HORSE Filed May 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j zo z J8 j I5 l J9 L?? EL: or 16 4a zo la 10a 5 INV EN TOR.

15a 2l f4 73 4 f5 VVLLLLaIn LLBLLLddroI'h A TTORNEY Sept. 9 1924. 1,507,765

` w. D. BLUDwoRTH MECHANICAL HORSE Filed May 14, 1923 2 shears-Sheen 2 10a f INVENTOR.

Willian/.2 D BLLLcZu/orh BY@ um ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.-

WILLIAM D. BLUDWORTH, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

' MECHANICAL HORSE.

Application filed May 14, 1923. i serial' No. 638,845.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known thatI, WILLIAM D. BLUD- WORTH `a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, county of Sacramento, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Horses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to impro-vements in rtoys for children, the 'principal object being to provideV a device which .will combine the features of a galloping horse with those of a` velocipede, so that the galloping movement of the horse will cause the device` to travel along the ground, and the-faster the galloping movement, the more rapid will be the speed of t-he device along thev ground.

The horse is of a size to be ridden in the usual manner by any child of suitable size, who may canse the galloping and propulsive movement to take place by exertion ofthe arms and hands, or ofthe feet,ror both t0- gether, and a fore and aft swinging movement of thebody will lalso aid in attaining thel desired movements.

lThe .galloping of the horse will also be obtained if the device is pushed or pulled along the ground, or descends a grade by gravity.

Means are also provided, arranged in combination with the hand propelling means,

for .steering the device.

.A further object ofthe invention is to produce av simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effec- 40 tive for the purposes for ,which it is designed.

. These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear' by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. Sjis a fragmentary section through the neck portion of the horse', showing the steering and propellingrod.

F ig. 4 is a longitudinal section'of the horse.

F ig. 5 is a sectional plan, taken on the Y line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of lreference o-n the drawings, the l numeral 1 denotes the body of the device,

shaped to represent the body and head of a horse, and of suitable dimensions. `This body is pivoted as at 2 intermediate its ends and in a transverse plane on vertical and rigid bars or supports 3, formed as a U-shaped unit, whichv rests on a vbase or platform 5,

rear wheels 8, said axles being connected by an intermediate and offset portion 9,*forming a crank. To secure the wheels to the axles in positive driving relation without the use of-keys andr thev like, I employ straps 8a straddling the loffsetting crank-arms lof the spindles, which lie adjacent the wheels, said straps being secured tothe wheels, which are preferably of the disc type.

A transverse -bar 10 1s pivoted on a pin 5a mounted at thefront end of the base,

ahead of .the uprights 3, for turning movement in a horizontal plane, the base being cut away at its sides for a certain distance to the rear ofthe bar 10, as shown in Fig. 5, to permit vof a certain :extent of movement of said bar. Rigidly connected to and extending vforwardly Vfrom the ,bar l10 at its ends y are longitudinal extensions 10a, forming'supports and bearing means for the spindles or axles 12'v of the front wheels 13, said spindles beingconnected by an offset portion 14 forming a crank the same as at the rear wheel end,` and connected in driving relation to the 'front wheels by strap means 13il the same las used on said rear wheels. v l v n The front legs 16 of the horse l are flexibly and independently pivoted thereon ahead of the pivots 2, as at 17, and extend down adjacent the vcrank 14, being vrconnected thereto by eyes 17a through which said crank freely passes. Stirrups 18 are pivoted on the bars 3 above the pivots 2 and are connected to the legs 16 intermediate their ends by rigid links 19, the connections of which are somewhat flexible.

A substantially vertical propelling and steering rod 20 passes through the neckend 1a of the body, having a cross-bai` handle 20EL on its upper end, and a transverse and rigidly fixed Sleeve 21 on its lower end which surrounds the crank 14 between the eyes 17a.

"The rod 20 is turnably and slidably mounted in a block 22 concealed in the neck 1'1, and swivelly mounted therein, a slot 22a of suitable form being provided in the neck to allow of the necessary relative movement of the rod.

A saddle 23 of suitable shape and size is mounted on the body 1 to the rear of the rod 20.

The rear legs 24 of the horse are flexibly pivoted on the body 1 to the rear of the bars 3, as atA 25, their lower ends extending adjacent the crank 9 and being connected thereto by loose fitting eyes 26 mounted thereon.

The pivots 2, 17 and 25 are preferably concealed by side plates 27secured on the body 1 and covering the said pivots and the upper portions of the bars 3 and legs 16 and 24.

The cranks 9 and 14 are positioned relative to each other so that when one is up, the other is nearly down, and vice versa, the wheels being the same size so that this relation is constantly maintained.

1n operation then, it will be evident that with the rotation of the wheels, the body 1 will rock back and forth on its pivot 2, and the faster the wheels turn, the faster will be the rocking movement, which will simulate the galloping of a horse.

As hereinbefore stated, this movement may be imparted by pushing or pulling the device along, but it is preferably done by the rider of the horse alternately lifting up and pressing down on the bar 20 through the medium of the handles 20a. It will also be eviden-t that the movement thus iinparted to the front crank, and hence to the front wheels, will be aided by a forward pressure on the links 19 imparted thereto by the feet in the stirrups 18, such pressure being of course timed to be in unison with the hand or arm pressures exerted on the handle 20a.

To steer the device. the handle 20a is turned in the desired direction without halting vertical reciprocatory movement of the rod 20. rThis, through the medium of the sleeve 21 on the lower end of the rod,`

causes the crank 14 to be swiveled, and of course the wheels 13 and frame 10---10n likewise. The loose fit of the eyes 17a on the crank allows a certain swivelling of the crank without disturbing the horse. A greater swivel movement causes the horse to swivel von its pivot 4 bringing the legs 16 again substantially at right angles t0 the crank 14, while the rear legs slide along the fixed crank 9, which they are enabled to do owing to the loose fit of the eyes 26 thereon. From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein. c

While this specifica-tion sets forth indetail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice suoli deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels, a base supported thereby, a body shaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement. means connecting the body with the wheels to cause the former to rock with the rotation of the wheels and hand actuated means Ifor positively rotating the wheels.

2. `A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels, a base supported thereby, a body shaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, means connecting the body with the wheels to cause the former to rock with the rotation of the wheels and hand means actuable from above the body for positively rotating the wheels.

3. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels,

a base supported thereby, a body shapedto simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, means connecting the body with the wheels to cause the former to rock with the rotation of the wheels and independent hand and axles therefor having off-set crank portions, a base supported by the axles, a body shaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, front and rear legs for the body pivoted thereon and `flexibly connected to the corresponding cranks, said cranks being ar` ranged in substantially off-set relation and hand actuated means mounted on the body and applied directly to one of the cranks to rotate the same.

6. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels, axles therefor having o-set crank portions, a base supported by the axles, a body shaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, front and rear legs for the body pivoted thereon and flexibly connected to the corresponding cranks, said cranks being arranged in substantially off-set relation, a vertical rod turnably mounted in the body and connected to one of the cranks, and means whereby on turning the rod, the corresponding wheels will be moved to lie in an angular plane whereby 'to steer the device.

7. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising frontand rear. wheels, axles therefor having off-set crank portions, a base supported by the axles, a body shaped to simulate ahorse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, front and rear legs for the body pivoted thereon and flexibly connected to the corresponding cranks, said cranks being arranged in substantially off-set relation and hand actuated means mounted on the body and applied directly to one of the cranks to rotate the same, and foot actuated means applied horizontally to certain of the legs to likewise cause rotation of the corresponding crank.

8. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels, axles therefor having olf-set crank portions, a base supported by the axles, a body shaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft` rocking movement, front and rear legs for the body pivoted thereon and flexibly connected to the corresponding cranks, said cranks being arranged in substantially o-set relation, hand actuated means mounted on the body and applied directly to one of the cranks to rotate the same, stirrups projecting downwardly from the body and pivoted thereon, and rigid horizontal links pivoted to the stirrups and to one pair of the legs.

9. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels,

axles therefor having central off-set crank portions, a base supported by the rear axle, a frame swivelly mounted on the base and having the front axle journaled therein, a

connected to the front crank to both 'cause' the rotationl of the crank and the turning of the front `Wheel frame on its swivel at will, said movements being capable of taking place simultaneously or independently of each other.

10. A combined galloping horse and velocipede comprising front and rear wheels, axles therefor having central off-'set crank portions, a base supported by the rear axle, a frame swivelly mounted on the base and having the front axle journaled therein, a body vshaped to simulate a horse pivotally supported from the base for fore and aft rocking movement, front and rear legs for the body. pivoted thereon and flexibly connected to the corresponding cranks, a vertical rod turnably and slidably mounted in the body and actuable from thereabove, and a sleeve rigidly fixed on the lower end of the rod and through which the front. crank passes. f

l1. A combined galloping horse and vey locipede including a base, steerable wheels mounted in connection therewith, an axle for said wheels having a central crankl portion, and connected in driving relation withv the wheels, a body pivotally supported from the base for forey andaft rocking movement,

means connecting the body with the wheels to causethe formerto rock with the rotation of theV wheels, and a substantially vertical hand actuated member turnably and slidably mounted in the body and connectedA to the crank.

12. A combined galloping horse and ve-.

locipede including a base, wheels mounted in connection therewith, a cranked axle for said wheels, connected in driving relation therewith, a body pivotally supported from the base\for fo-re and aft rocking movement, means connecting the body with the wheels to` .cause the former to rock with.

means connecting the body with the wheels to cause thev former to rock with the rotationv ofthe wheels, a hand actuated member mounted on the body and connected to the axle, and means whereby said member may be manipulated to cause rotation of the axle and wheels.

llO

14, A combined galloping horse and velooipede including a base, steerable Wheels mounted in connection therewith, an axle for said wheels, connected in driving relation therewith, a bodymounted on the base for fore and aft rocking movement, means connecting the loodyv and Wheels to cause the former to rock With the rotation of the wheels, and a common hand actuatedmeans mounted'on the body and directly Connected 10 In testimony whereof I ailix inysign- I ture. Y v

VILLIAM D. BLUDVVORTH..v 

